Singapore confirms Indonesian oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid is not in the country

Singapore has confirmed that Indonesian oil tycoon Muhammad Riza Chalid, wanted as a suspect in a major corruption case involving fuel imports, is not currently in Singapore.

On 16 July 2025, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a statement addressing Indonesian media reports suggesting that Riza was in the city-state. The ministry clarified that immigration records showed Riza had not entered Singapore for some time.

“If officially requested, Singapore will provide the necessary assistance to Indonesia, within the ambit of our laws and international obligations,” the MFA stated.

The confirmation followed reports from Indonesian media outlets, including Tempo and The Jakarta Post, that Riza had allegedly fled to Singapore after being named a suspect in a high-profile corruption case linked to state oil company Pertamina.

However, Indonesian authorities have since indicated that Riza is believed to be in Malaysia.

According to Tempo, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration under the Law and Human Rights Ministry is coordinating with Malaysian officials to trace his whereabouts. Acting Director-General of Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, told the publication that Riza “has not returned to Indonesian territory” since his departure.

Immigration records showed that Riza left Indonesia on 6 February 2025 via Soekarno-Hatta Airport and subsequently travelled to Malaysia. “His whereabouts are suspected to be in Malaysia at the moment,” Yuldi was quoted as saying.

The Jakarta Post reported that Riza had been officially named a suspect by Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in a corruption case involving subsidiaries of Pertamina, the state-owned oil and gas giant. Investigators allege that Riza’s actions and related business dealings caused Pertamina to suffer losses amounting to trillions of rupiah.

Seven individuals have already been arrested in connection with the case, including Riza’s son, Muhammad Kerry Adrianto Riza. Kerry was named a suspect by the AGO in February 2025. He is accused of acting as the beneficial owner of PT Navigator Khatulistiwa and serving as an intermediary in a Pertamina crude oil import auction.

Investigators claim that Kerry manipulated auction prices in favour of specific suppliers, resulting in significant financial losses to the state.

Earlier, Abdul Qohar, Director of Investigation at the AGO, told reporters that Riza might be hiding in Singapore. However, that statement was contradicted by Indonesia’s immigration authorities following verification of recent travel records.

Riza, widely known in Indonesia as the “Gasoline Godfather”, is a prominent and controversial figure in the oil import industry. His company, Global Energy Resources, was once one of the largest suppliers of petroleum products to Petral, a now-defunct subsidiary of Pertamina.

Business publication Globe Asia previously estimated Riza’s personal wealth at about US$415 million, derived largely from his holdings in Global Energy Resources and associated trading ventures.

Investigators have accused Riza of intervening in the management and procurement operations of Pertamina subsidiaries, including PT Pertamina Patra Niaga. One of the main allegations centres on a questionable fuel depot rental agreement at Merak Port in Cilegon, Banten.

According to the AGO, Pertamina Patra Niaga rented a depot facility owned by PT Orbit Terminal Merak despite reportedly having no operational need for additional storage space. The depot, investigators allege, was used to store imported oil as part of an arrangement that lacked financial justification and compliance transparency.

Investigators raided the Merak Port depot in February 2025 as part of their inquiry.

Abdul Qohar told Indonesian media that the contract between Pertamina and Orbit Terminal Merak originally contained a clause requiring the eventual transfer of ownership of the terminal to Pertamina after a ten-year lease period. However, investigators discovered that this clause had been removed from the final contract version.

“For ten years, there was a clause that Pertamina would receive asset sharing, but that clause was removed,” Qohar said, adding that the omission may have been deliberate.

The AGO also alleges that the rental prices agreed in the contract were far above market rates, contributing further to the state’s losses. Three additional individuals have been implicated in relation to the depot arrangement.

Among them is Gading Ramadhan Joedo, President Director of PT Orbit Terminal Merak, who was named a suspect earlier this year. Two Pertamina officials—Vice President of Supply and Distribution, Aflian Nasution, and Director of Marketing and Commerce, Hanung Budya—are also under investigation for alleged complicity in the deal.

Indonesia’s Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has estimated that the state incurred losses of approximately Rp2.9 trillion, equivalent to around US$175 million, due to the suspected misconduct.

The AGO maintains that the losses stemmed from inflated contract prices, manipulated procurement processes, and the removal of contractual safeguards intended to protect public assets.

The case marks one of the largest corruption investigations linked to Indonesia’s oil import sector in recent years and has drawn significant public attention due to the involvement of high-profile business figures and government-linked enterprises.

Riza’s influence in Indonesia’s energy sector dates back several decades. His firm, Global Energy Resources, rose to prominence through contracts with Pertamina and related subsidiaries during periods of fuel import liberalisation. His connections with senior officials and political figures have been a recurring subject of public scrutiny.

Singapore’s MFA reiterated that it would cooperate with Indonesian authorities in accordance with its domestic laws and international commitments. While confirming Riza’s absence from Singapore, the ministry’s statement underscored the importance of following established legal channels for cross-border investigations.

“If Indonesia makes an official request for assistance, Singapore will respond within the framework of mutual legal assistance arrangements,” the statement said.

The confirmation from Singapore clarifies earlier speculation and refocuses Indonesian efforts to locate Riza in Malaysia, where officials are now coordinating to verify his current location.

The Indonesian Attorney General’s Office has said that the investigation remains ongoing, with further asset-tracing efforts under way to recover potential state losses.

The case continues to highlight the complexities of transnational financial investigations in Southeast Asia, where cross-border cooperation among law enforcement and financial authorities is essential in tackling large-scale corruption cases.